differentiates; differentiated; differentiating
1
: to make (someone or something) different in some way
The only thing that differentiates the twins is the color of their eyes.
—often + fromOur excellent customer service differentiates us from our competitors.
2
: to see or state the difference or differences between two or more things
—often + between
We've been learning how to differentiate between different types of plants.
—often + fromIt's sometimes hard to differentiate one action movie from all the others.
Cite this Entry
“Differentiate.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/differentiate. Accessed 18 Apr. 2026.
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